A Harris County deputy constable was fatally shot while driving to work in west Houston on Tuesday afternoon, with a person of interest detained in connection with the shooting, CBS News reports.
The deputy, identified as Maher Husseini, was in his personal SUV and had stopped at an intersection when a man approached his vehicle, got out, and opened fire around 12:30 p.m., according to Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz. Husseini was not in uniform at the time of the shooting.
“It’s an awful thing for the community, for someone to lose their life, someone that’s dedicated their life to public service,” Diaz said, calling the incident “absolutely tragic.”
Husseini, who had been with Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office since 2021, was transported to a Houston hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police initially described the suspect as a 35- to 40-year-old man with dark, thinning hair, wearing a dark shirt and pants. He was reportedly driving a charcoal grey Chevy Impala with a unique bumper disfigurement.
Later on Tuesday evening, authorities announced the detention of a person of interest in Galveston, about 50 miles southeast of Houston. No further details about the detained individual have been released.
Police are investigating the motive behind the shooting, exploring possibilities including road rage and whether the deputy was specifically targeted.
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